Last week, my friends and I were hanging out for coffee, talking about our careers and how we could earn more money.
Most of us had ended up in the jobs we imagined we would work in, save for one.
I’ve always thought my friend R would end up in the advertising industry.
When we were still in university, I would ask him for info about ad agencies because then I was considering working there myself. He was so passionate about that career track so much that I admired his determination.
He was much younger than me but he got his life all planned out and he knew exactly where he wanted to go.
A couple of years after we both graduated from college, I found out that he was going to take up nursing.
R wanted to go abroad and nurses were one of the hottest in demand jobs overseas.
I was hesitant for R only because I knew how passionate he was about a career in advertising.
I thought giving up his passion for a health care career might be a wrong move.
But as always he was pretty determined about it so I figured he would do well.
After studying, R ended up working a hospital but quit after awhile.
Last week, when we saw each other after ages, I learned he was already working as a fitness trainer in a major gym franchise.
“Is that what you really want?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said with much conviction.
Then he went on to say how he loves what he is doing now and that it all fits together because his nursing degree actually makes him a more valuable (a.k.a highly paid) fitness trainer.
I just realized that when it comes to finding your life’s work and your passion, it’s okay to change your mind — wherever you are in the course of your professional life.
Some of us get stuck when we get hired in steady jobs with regular pay because we’re scared of trying out something new or going jobless.
Of course, when you’ve got a family to feed and bills to pay, pursuing your passion may be a bit more challenging.
But there’s got to be another way.
You just need to find it.
What I admired about R was that he kept on moving along his course, trying out different things, giving up those that didn’t work and finally, finding that one job that he loves.
The key is in the moving and doing.
Because if you just keep thinking and thinking but you don’t move and do anything, then you’re gonna stay stuck.
Most of the time, it seems scary to try out something new because we might make mistakes.
But then I think it’s better to consider them as learning experiences.
Just remember what you learned and move on.
The beauty of life is you will always have choices and chances.
Though you cannot undo every choice you make, you always have a chance to change your mind.
Photo credit: DavidDMuir
